Centre forms panel on 'One Nation, One Election', former President to head it

New Delhi, September 01: In a significant move towards the 'one nation, one election' proposal, the Indian government has established a committee tasked with studying the feasibility of this concept and presenting its findings. The distinguished former President Ram Nath Kovind will lead this panel, reflecting the seriousness with which the government is approaching the idea.

This development comes on the heels of the government's announcement of a special session of Parliament scheduled to take place from September 18 to 22. While speculation is rife about the possibility of introducing a bill related to 'one nation, one election' during the session, no official confirmation has been provided by government sources.

The 'one nation, one election' concept revolves around the idea of synchronizing Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament) and state assembly elections to occur simultaneously across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have consistently advocated for this approach, with it even finding a place in the party's 2014 Lok Sabha election manifesto.

Historically, India followed the practice of conducting elections simultaneously until 1967, when four elections were held concurrently. However, this practice was disrupted after certain state assemblies were prematurely dissolved in 1968-69. The Lok Sabha itself was dissolved a year ahead of schedule for the first time in 1971, leading to mid-term elections. The current move to explore the 'one nation, one election' concept is aimed at examining the feasibility and potential benefits of reintroducing simultaneous elections in the country.

Also Read: Crucial agenda expected at third meeting of INDIA Bloc in Mumbai today